What's at Stake for LGBT Elders in the Debt Deal

SAGE and the Medicare Rights Center hosted a discussion on the "Super Committee," how federal budget decisions could affect programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and what that means for LGBT older adults.

With our roots in New York City, SAGE is committed to ensuring that our city and state policy makers respond to the many issues facing LGBT older adults. Through SAGE's city and state advocacy program, we testify at hearings and meet with city and state officials to educate them about our issues. We work closely with LGBT older adults to bring their stories to government leaders, as well as with partner organizations to strengthen the LGBT elder voice in New York. Finally, we produce policy analysis to inform the aging field about the barriers that prevent many LGBT older New Yorkers from aging in good health, with financial security, and with broad community support.

The Issues

From the Older Americans Act to HIV and aging, from cultural competence to housing, and much more, a variety of issues uniquely affect LGBT elders. Learn about our lives. ▶

NEW YORK CITY AND STATE ADVOCACY. In May 2012, SAGE took part in two advocacy events to raise the visibility of LGBT aging issues—and LGBT older people themselves—among city and state policy makers. The first, Equality and Justice Day, is a statewide advocacy day sponsored by the Empire State Pride Agenda. SAGE constituents traveled to Albany, NY, where they joined hundreds of activists, allies, and community members to advocate on behalf of LGBT New Yorkers on issues from healthcare access to GENDA, the state's gender identity non-discrimination bill. This was followed by the 17th Annual City Hall Advocacy Day sponsored by the Council of Senior Centers and Services and held in New York City. At both advocacy days, SAGE constituents testified about their lives and the many issues affecting LGBT older people in New York City and New York State.

SAGE OPENS FIRST SENIOR CENTER FOR LGBT ELDERS. On March 1, 2012—after years of local policy advocacy—SAGE opened The SAGE Center, the nation's first full-time innovative LGBT senior center, offering services to LGBT older people throughout New York City. SAGE thanks the following people and funders that made The SAGE Center possible: New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Members of the Council; Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer; The Calamus Foundation; The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation; The Booth Ferris Foundation; FJC-A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds; The David Bohnett Foundation. The SAGE Center is funded in part by the New York City Department for the Aging.

MEDICAID PROTECTIONS AND NEW YORK. In November 2011, a month after SAGE issued guidance on these protections to New York State officials, New York extended spousal impoverishment protections to all legally married couples. These protections legally ensure that the healthy partner of a married same-sex couple can continue to reside at home while the other partner lives at a long-term care facility. It also prevents harmful financial penalties for transferring assets to one's spouse or partner. Read SAGE's white paper on "spousal impoverishment protections" in New York State. ▶

SAGE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT LGBT ELDERS ACCEPTED BY NYSOFA. In October 2011, the New York State Office of the Aging (NYSOFA) incorporated our recommendations on ways to protect LGBT elders in their five-year plan for aging service provisions in the state. SAGE's recommendations included: prioritize health services and prevention programs to LGBT older adults; increase attention on elder abuse among LGBT older adults; design and implement programs that recognize unique family structures, such as families of choice; and collect and assess data on State Aging programs to ensure LGBT older adults are being served. The plan went into effect October 1, 2011 and will be active until September 30, 2015. SAGE will be working with NYSOFA to ensure that they hold to their current commitments to the LGBT community and strengthen their supports for LGBT New Yorkers in the next five-year plan.

TOWN HALL ON SUPER COMMITTEE AND THE BUDGET DEFICIT. In September 2011, SAGE hosted a town hall on the Congressional "Super Committee" and the federal budget crisis to discuss how decisions on the debt ceiling could affect LGBT older adults enrolled programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Joe Baker, President of the Medicare Rights Center, chaired the meeting and answered questions about what SAGE constituents can do to help prevent cuts to these programs. Attendees also had the opportunity to record personal stories about how their lives are affected by federal benefit programs, and a SAGE social worker was on hand to detail SAGE's benefits counseling services and to set up one-on-one follow-up appointments.

SAGE HOSTS DISCUSSION ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. In October 2011, Dr. Jaime Torres, Regional Director of New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, came to SAGE to lead a discussion on the Affordable Care Act and how its policies may affect LGBT older adults in New York City. Dr. Torres gave SAGE constituents an overview of the Affordable Care Act and the new policies designed to improve their health, including increased prevention and wellness benefits, changes in prescription drug coverage, and reforms in Medicare, Medicaid and broader healthcare policies. More on health reform. ▶

SAGE TAKES THE LEAD ON LOCAL ADVOCACY EFFORTS. SAGE continued to lead New York City advocacy efforts on LGBT aging, testifying at two major City Council Hearings. In March 2011, SAGE testified before New York City's Department for the Aging about the proposed budget cuts to Title XX, which would result in the closure of 110 senior centers across the five boroughs and the loss of over 5,000 hot meals served within those sites. In April 2011, SAGE testified before City Council about LGBT older adults and the need to support community centers that offer integrative mental health services and aging service providers who are knowledgeable about the issues and concerns facing LGBT older adults. Read additional testimony on social isolation and elder abuse, as two examples.

SAGE ADVOCATES IN NY STATE ON CRITICAL LGBT AGING ISSUES. On May 18, 2011, SAGE and other representatives from New York aging organizations took part in a roundtable discussion with State Senators David J. Valesky and Martin J. Golden to argue against dissolving the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and merging aging issues under the Department of Health—an option proposed by Governor Cuomo's Sage Commission, which was tasked with streamlining government and making it more cost-effective. SAGE spoke about how such a move would hurt LGBT elders. Ultimately, the option did not go through, preserving NYSOFA.

SAGE AND PARTNERS SUBMIT HIV AND AGING RECOMMENDATIONS TO NY STATE. In May 2011, SAGE, GMHC and the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) submitted more than 20 concrete recommendations for New York's State Plan on Aging (NYSPA) 2012-2015. The recommendations are meant to ensure that the plan addresses the unique needs and challenges of a growing number of HIV-positive and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults throughout the state—and touches on issues such as long-term care, preventative health services, caregiving, and civic engagement, among many others.

NEW YORK STATE PASSES IMPORTANT LEGISLATION TO AID LGBT ELDERS. In June 2011, marking LGBT Pride month, the New York State Senate passed historic legislation that requires the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) to assess the needs of traditionally underserved elders, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults, and to provide technical assistance to the organizations that serve LGBT older adults. This bill, sponsored by New York State Senator Thomas K. Duane and Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner, was signed by Governor Cuomo in September 2011 and became effective immediately, ensuring that LGBT older adults will be able to find culturally competent and sensitive care statewide. This legislation is a tremendous step forward for LGBT older adults, who are more likely to delay seeking care because of fears of discrimination and abuse.

SAGE COUPLE FIRST TO BE LEGALLY MARRIED IN NEW YORK CITY. In the spring and summer of 2011, SAGE and the LGBT community worked with our partners in the marriage equality movement to bring marriage equality to New York State. Eight SAGE constituents were among the delegation of LGBT activists who traveled to Albany for Equality and Justice Day, Empire State Pride Agenda's annual advocacy day. There, they attended a rally and met with state legislators to discuss issues from marriage equality to affordable housing—talks that paid off when marriage equality passed in New York in June. And on Sunday, July 24 longtime SAGE members Connie Kopolov, 84, and Phyllis Siegal, 76, became the first couple to legally marry in New York City in a ceremony hosted by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. SAGE Harlem participants Michael Johnson, 54, and Michael Roberts, 82, were also among the couples wed during Speaker Quinn's event. Congratulations to Connie and Phyllis, and Michael and Michael!

Partnerships

SAGE is an active member of the New York State LGBT Health & Human Services Network (facilitated by the Empire State Pride Agenda) and helped to create its Senior Issues Committee. Through participation in the Network, SAGE advocates with more than 50 LGBT and allied organizations to advance policy issues in New York State that address the continuum of health care needs in LGBT communities.

To learn more about SAGE's advocacy efforts in New York City and New York State, please contact us at policy@sageusa.org.